Kafui Danku, James Gardiner lack the expertise – Creatives petition John Mahama to revoke Film Authority appointments

The Association of Ghanaian Creatives has petitioned President John Dramani Mahama to revoke the appointments of Kafui Danku and James Gardiner as Executive Secretary and Deputy Executive Secretary, respectively, of the National Film Authority (NFA).

The petition, hosted on change.org, argues that both appointees lack the industry expertise required to lead the NFA and calls for their replacement with more qualified professionals.

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“We, the undersigned members of the Association of Ghanaian Creatives, urge the government to appoint qualified, visionary leadership at the NFA. The institution must be helmed by a technocrat with deep industry knowledge, supported by a board of experienced creative professionals who can steer the sector toward revitalization and global competitiveness,” the petition states.

The group further claims that Danku and Gardiner’s experience in low-budget productions and social media branding does not align with the strategic leadership needed to develop Ghana’s film industry. They contrast the appointments with the tenure of former NFA CEO Juliet Yaa Asantewaa Asante, whom they describe as a Harvard-trained leader who implemented key industry initiatives and secured distribution deals with major players like MTN.

As an alternative, the petitioners propose six industry professionals they believe are better suited for the roles, including:

1. George Bosompin (National Film Institute, GAFTA)
2. Jim Awindor (Film and television strategist)
3. Akofa Edjeani Asiedu (Veteran filmmaker and policy maker)
4. Professor Linus Abraham (Media and communication expert)
5. Akosua Abdallah (Film education and policy expert)
6. Nicole Amarteifio (Pioneering filmmaker and industry advocate)

The Association warns that ineffective leadership at the NFA could further stagnate Ghana’s film industry at a time when global players like Netflix and Prime Video are scaling back in Africa. They urge President Mahama to prioritize expertise over political considerations in selecting NFA leaders.